Exercise sneaker having a plurality of attachment points along an outer peripheral thereof for attaching an elastic band to perform exercise movements

ABSTRACT

A sneaker-like or exercise shoe with an adjustable, posterior heel strap that provides for a one size fits all configuration. A plurality of peripheral hook members are positioned around the mid-section and toe portion of the shoe for attaching an elastic or stretchable band. Specifically, the plurality of hook members are positioned (A) on the inside of the foot at the medial portion of the 1st metatarsal distal end; (B) on the outside of the foot at the lateral medial portion of the 5th metatarsal distal end; and (C) on the distal end of the 2nd metatarsal. At the back of the shoe the strap goes around the posterior calcaneus of a foot for adjustable sizes.

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to sneakers. More specificallythe present invention relates to an exercise sneaker having a pluralityof attachment points along an outer peripheral thereof for attaching anelastic band to perform exercise movements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art teaches various shoe-like devices for providing resistanceexercise to the foot and ankle muscles, but they are all insufficientfor various reasons. The most common issue with the devices taught inthe prior art is their inferior placement of attachment points along theperipheral of the shoe and the in-ability for the device to be used by avariety of wearers.

German Patent DE202005006610 to Karl-Heinz Costin discloses a sandallike shoe having an inner side, which is wider than the lower sole andhas fitted medal hoops for being joined to ropes to be pulled during aphysiotherapeutic exercise. One loop is positioned at a front end of theshoe and another is positioned at the heel area. Two more loops areattached to the sides of the heel area and two more pairs of loops arelocated beside the location of the toe joints. However, nothing in thisreference discloses that it can be provided as a one-size fits allconfiguration, with an adjustable back strap as in your invention. Infact, it specifically states it is available in three different sizes.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,103 to Fulton discloses an exercising device forstrengthening joints of the body, particularly the ankle joint. A platethat is engaged against the foot of the user imparts controlledresistance in all directional movements of the ankle joint throughelastic limbs having one set of corresponding ends attached topredetermined points around the periphery of the plate and the other setof corresponding ends attached to a pair of handles which are gripped bythe user in his or her hand for varying the degree of resistanceimparted by the limbs. Nothing in this reference discloses the use ofhook members attached to footwear or a sneaker. However, the type ofexercise imparted upon the ankle and foot is similar to what you wish toaccomplish with the present invention.

US Published Patent Application US20060265910 to Lampley discloses asport shoe that provides a set of four rings, which are each separatelyengaged with the shoe and free to rotate between opposing positionsabutting the exterior surface of the shoe on opposite sides of the ring.A frontal ring is centered on the instep and, when rotated to a medialrotational attitude, is aligned vertically and with a longitudinal axisof symmetry of the shoe. An inside ring, when rotated to its medialrotational attitude is aligned horizontally and centered relative to theheight of the inside of the shoe. An outside ring, when rotated to itsmedial rotational attitude is aligned horizontally and centered relativeto the height of the outside of the shoe. A rear ring is centered on theback of the shoe and, when rotated to its medial rotational attitude, isaligned vertically and with the longitudinal axis of symmetry. Althoughthe rings or hoops are being used for a completely different purpose ascompared to your invention, it is relevant for its disclosure of hookmembers attached to a peripheral portion of the shoe and or sneaker.

International Published Application WO200514116 to Nitta et al.discloses an exercise foot harness adapted to be secured to either thefoot or shoe of a user. The exercise foot harness includes aninterconnection of a toe strap, a mid-strap, and a heel strap. The toestrap includes a coupling member so that the toe strap may be securedaround the toe area of an athletic shoe. The toe strap also includes oneor more coupling points where a user may secure a resistance device,such as a weight cable of a home gym or other exercise machine. The heelstrap includes a coupling member so that the heel strap may be securedaround the heel area of an athletic shoe. The heel strap also includesone or more coupling points where a user may secure a resistance device.Finally, the mid-strap is used to secure the exercise foot harnessaround the mid-portion of an athletic shoe. In one particulararrangement, coupling points are provided at the top of the toe, thebottom of the toe, the left and right side, and the heel so that a usermay connect a resistance device or devices to any number of combinationsof coupling points and perform numerous different exercises. Thisreference is relevant for its disclosure of the coupling pointspositioned around the outer edge of the shoe. However, nothing hereindescribes a one size fits all device with an adjustable posterior heelstrap as in the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a sneaker-like or exercise shoe with anadjustable, posterior heel strap that provides for a one size fits allconfiguration. A plurality of peripheral hook members are positionedaround the mid-section and toe portion of the shoe for attaching anelastic or stretchable band. Specifically, the plurality of hook membersare positioned (A) on the inside of the foot at the medial portion ofthe 1st metatarsal distal end (commonly referred to as the ball offoot); (B) on the outside of the foot at the lateral medial portion ofthe 5th metatarsal distal end; and (C) on the distal end of the 2ndmetatarsal. At the back of the shoe the strap goes around the posteriorcalcaneus of a foot for adjustable sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shoe of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the back of the shoe in a closed positionillustrating the strap, which goes around the posterior calcaneus of afoot for providing adjustable sizes; and

FIG. 3 is a view of the back of the shoe in an open positionillustrating the strap, which goes around the posterior calcaneus of afoot for providing adjustable sizes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the invention of exemplaryembodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a parthereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplaryembodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodimentsare described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized andlogical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. The followingdetailed description is therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense,and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appendedclaims.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth toprovide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it isunderstood that the invention may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques knownto one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail inorder not to obscure the invention.

Referring to the figures, it is possible to see the various majorelements constituting the apparatus of the present invention. Thepresent invention is a standard shoe 1 comprised of an upper 10 withsecuring means 12, and sole 11 where the back, heal portion 9 has beencut off or removed and replaced with a hook and loop strap or otheradjustable means 2 for securing the shoe 1 to the foot of a wearer andproviding means for a one size fits all configuration. The hook and loopstrap or other adjustable means 2 is attached in such a manner so thatit can be adjustable and fit many sizes of feet. There are also threeeyelet holes 3, 4, and 5 positioned strategically around the frontportion 5 of the shoe. The three points are vital and need to be inspecific locations, which are basically the three strongest points of ahuman foot. To those eyelet holes a loop is connected forming theperipheral hook members 3, 4, and 5 so that a wearer can then attach theshoe to an elastic band, surgical tubing, weight, or pulley system sothat they can strengthen and rehab the ankle through resistancetraining.

Now referring to FIG. 1, the invention is a sneaker-like or exerciseshoe 1 with an adjustable, posterior heel strap 2 that provides for aone size fits all configuration. A plurality of peripheral hook members3, 4, and 5 are positioned around the mid-section 6 and toe portion 7 ofthe shoe for attaching an elastic or stretchable band. Specifically, theplurality of hook members 3, 4, and 5 are positioned (A) on the insideof the foot at the medial portion of the 1st metatarsal distal end 3(commonly referred to as the ball of foot); (B) on the outside of thefoot at the lateral medial portion of the 5th metatarsal distal end 4;and (C) on the distal end of the 2nd metatarsal 5. At the back of theshoe the strap 2 goes around the posterior calcaneus of a foot foradjustable sizes.

These three locations are critical to the present invention. The hookmembers 3, 4, and 5 need to line up to the strong parts to the foot sothat a wearer can get the best strength and good pull against theresistance means. The anchorage points are also adapted securely toreceive a connector mounted on an end of an elastic member. Someadaptations include the use of a loop, a hook, or other connection meanstaught in the prior art.

Now referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the view of the back portion 9 of theshoe 1 in a closed and open position illustrating the strap 2 whichcorresponds to the posterior calcaneus of a wearer's foot for providingadjustable sizes is shown. The strap 2, in a closed position is attachedto the lateral side of the shoe 2 and is wrapped around the posteriorcalcaneus of a wearer's foot to the medial side of the shoe 2 where abuckle 13 is located. The strap 2 is threaded through the buckle 13 andwrapped back around the posterior calcaneus of a wearer's foot to thelateral side of the shoe 2 where it is fastened to its self using a hookand loop fastener or equivalent means known in the art.

It is appreciated that the relationships for the parts of the invention,to include variation in database and subsystem configuration to detachthem for each other and provide the possibilities to deploy the systemin different locations and under different authorities with division oflabor, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skillin the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the above description are intended to beencompassed by the present invention.

In addition, other areas of art may benefit from this method andadjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of theinvention should be determined by the appended claims and their legalequivalents, rather than by the examples given.

1. An exercise device comprising: at least one shoe, the at least oneshoe including an upper portion, a back portion, and a sole portion,wherein the upper portion is provided with one or more anchorage means,the back portion of the at least one shoe provided with adjustable meansfor securing the at least one shoe to the foot for adjustable sizes andcorresponding to the posterior calcaneus of a foot; and wherein the atleast one resistance member may be attached to the anchorage means and,in use, provides a resistance force against which the wearer may exerthim or herself.
 2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein theadjustable means for securing the at least one shoe to the foot of awearer provides means for a one size fits all configuration.
 3. Theexercise device of claim 1, wherein the adjustable means for securingthe at least one shoe to the foot of a wearer is further comprised of ahook and loop fastener.
 4. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein theupper portion is provided with three anchorage means positioned on theshoe corresponding to: the medial portion of the 1st metatarsal distalend; the distal end 2nd metatarsal; and the lateral medial portion ofthe 5th metatarsal distal end.
 5. The exercise device of claim 1,wherein the resistance means includes an elastic band and, in use,gripped by a wearer of the device so as to provide an elastic forceagainst which the wearer may exert him or herself.
 6. The exercisedevice of claim 1, wherein the resistance means includes an elastic bandand, in use, secured to another object so as to provide an elastic forceagainst which the wearer may exert him or herself.
 7. The exercisedevice of claim 1, wherein the resistance means includes a weightedpulley system attached to the anchorage means and, in use, provides aresistance force against which the wearer may exert him or herself. 8.The exercise device of claim 5, wherein the resistance means is surgicaltubing.
 9. The exercise device of claim 5, wherein the anchorage pointsare adapted securely to receive a connector mounted on an end of anelastic member.